Moving platform.



No. 782,009. PATENTED FEB. '7, 1905.

J. M. DODGE.

MOVING PLATFORM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905.

J. M. DODGE.

MOVING PLATFORM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l' lw PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905.-

J. M. DODGE.

MOVING PLATFORM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24. 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES Patented February 7, 1905.

PATENT UFFICEQ JAMES M. DODGE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGIIOR TO THE STAIR LIFT COMPANY, OF CAMDEN, NEIV JERSEY, A CORPO- RATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MOVING PLATFORM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 782,009, dated February '7, 1905.

Application filed November 24, 1902. Serial No. 132,627.

To (1 7/ whom. it m/tg (OH/(Writ:

Be it known that 1, James M Donors, a citizen of the United States, residingin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. have invented certain Improvements in MovingPla-tforms, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to construct a moving inclined plane in a spiral form. This object I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of my improved inclined plane, showing the floors in section. Fig. is a plan view, partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a sectional perspective View on the line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. at is a sectional view on the line 4 A, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an inverted perspective view of the moving section. Fig. 6 is an inverted plan view of one of the elements of the moving section, showing the supporting-wheels. Fig. 7 is a view of the moving section passing around the sprocketwheels. Fig. 8 is a detached view showing the shaft and sprocket-wheels.

A A are guides curved and arranged spirally, as shown in Fig. 1, and in these guides the wheels of the moving section B travel. This moving section in the present instance consists of a series of overlapping plates B, (shown clearly in Figs. 3, 4c, and 5,) which are connected together by links O O. The links have extensions 00, respectively. to which the sections B are attached in any suitable manner. On each link are stops 0 so that the stop of one link engages the stop of the other to prevent the links bending beyond a certain line, as indicated by the length of the stop, so that while the chain can be flexed in one direction it is limited in the other, thus making a firm support for the person being carried by the moving platform B.

It will be noticed that each section B is tapered, being wider at one end than the other, so that the moving platform will accommodate itself to the spiral, and each section B has a lip I), which extends under the edge of an adjoining section, so that when the sections are in line, as shown in Fig. A, there will be no space between the several sections.

In order to support the moving platform, I provide bearings E at intervals throughout the length of the chain C (,3 for the shafts F, which travel in the guides A A. .I have shown the bearings forming part of one of the chain-links, as shown in Fig. 6, and at about an interval of eight'sections apart, as I, find that this is sufficient for the purpose. On the outer end of each shaft F is a wheel f, which travels in the ways A, while a head F is carried by the opposite end of the shaft, in. which is a wheel f, guided in the ways A, and on the head are also wheclsf which bear against the portion (1. of the guide.

It will be noticed in referring to the drawings that the shafts G at the upper and lower ends of the spiral way are arranged on an incline and the sprocket-wheels g are of different diameters; but the upper face of each wheel is on a st aight line, so that the wheels will accommodate themsc s to the moving platform and will properly drive it in us spiral course. The return run of the moving platform is directly under the carrying run and can be guided in any suitable manner in the spiral guides A A.

It will be noticed that the spiral guides surround a central column I), within which is the main driving-shaft II in the present instance, and this driving-shafthas a bevel-gear 71., meshing with a pinion r on the shaft Gr.

It will be understood that any form of driving mechanism may be used without departing from my invention.

\Vhile I have shown vertical supports D for the outer guides A, it will be understood that the supports will vary according to the structure in which the stairway is mounted.

In the drawings 1 have shown the sections B of the moving platform as curved, so as to make an undulatingsurface. This may be modified without departing from my invention; but this undulating surface gives a little better hold when a person is standing on an inclined platform.

In order to avoid confusion, I have omitted side guards for the stairway which would overlap the moving section, and I have not shown a hand-rail, which can be used, if desired, either in a fixed form or traveling with the moving section.

I claim as my invention'- 1. The combination of spiral guides, shafts at the upper and lower ends of said guides, sprocket-Wheels of different diameters on each shaft, and an endless carrier passing around the sprocket-wheels and directed by the guides to follow a spiral course, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the spiral guides, a moving carrier consisting of a series of overlapping sections, chains coupling the said sections together, shafts on the carrier, wheels on the shafts entering the guides, and means for driving the moving carrier, substantially as described.

3. The combination of spiral guides, shafts at the upper and lower ends of said guides, sprocket-wheels of different diameters, on each shaft, an endless carrier passing around the sprocket-wheels and directed by the guides to follow a spiral course, shafts mounted on the endless carrier, a supporting-wheel on one end of each shaft and a head on the opposite end carrying a supporting wheel and two wheels bearing against the inner guide, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES M. DODGE.

Witnesses:

l/VILL. A. BARR, Jos. H. KLEIN. 

